After a historic election, the Republic of Colombia seeks to build deeper political, social and commercial ties with Africa and the Caribbean region. The Council was honoured to be invited to join this effort and recognise Colombia’s new PAC Representative in Congress this past August 8th, 2022.
Colombia’s historic election and transition to a popular government led by President Gustavo Petro and Vice President Francia Marquez not only marks an unprecedented window of opportunity for improved diplomatic and economic relations within the region, but also the possibility of seeking further rapprochement with African countries on the other side of the Atlantic. This prompted the need to establish a new specialised presidential working group on Africa-Colombia affairs and a strategic summit in 2023 to embark on these objectives. The Pan-African Council has committed itself to join Colombia on this journey after being invited to Congress for the launch of the Africa and the Americas Summit Executive Committee.
The Africa & The Americas Summit 2023 (AFAS), slated for the city of Cali, Colombia, from August 10–12, 2023 (tentative date), is designed to build new cultural, trade and investment relationships between Africa and the Americas with a special focus on the African Diaspora and Indigenous communities. The inextricable link between the two regions is well documented; a shared history, identity and philosophy bind them. These are the threads that African and American nations must draw on to write a new, positive chapter in the regions’ history.
AFAS 2023 will be held under the theme “A New Path to Cooperation”. The Summit aims to foster the development of strategic partnerships between the communities in Africa and throughout the Americas, to bolster bilateral cooperation and increase engagement in trade, investment, technology transfer, innovation, tourism, culture, social engagement, and other sectors.
Additionally, AFAS 2023 is expected to contribute to the implementation of Colombia’s South-South objectives, namely the Strategy for Cooperation with the Caribbean Basin, Regional Cooperation Program with Mesoamerica, and the International Cooperation Strategy on Integral Security.
In addition, the Council designed a new Council Representative for the Republic of Colombia, Ms Cha Dorina Hernández, Congresswoman and Educator, who will lead the Summit Executive Committee and have shown exceptional leadership in building relations with Africa and Diaspora.
